Pan Am became the first U.S. airline to operate a Boeing 747 in scheduled passenger service in 1970.
Pan American World Airways introduced the Boeing 747 on January 22, 1970, flying from New York to London. The aircraft’s enormous size and upper-deck design made it a highly visible symbol of the jet age and helped lower the cost per passenger on long routes.
The first flight was originally planned for the evening of January 21, but a mechanical problem delayed the departure until the next day. Pan Am’s aircraft was named Clipper Victor.
Pan Am was a major international carrier but ceased operations in December 1991. The Boeing 747 continued flying with many airlines for decades, so Pan Am’s historic first scheduled service should not be confused with being the only airline to operate the type.